In the past 3 days I have pulled my press handle 9250 times

[TonyT]

Several years ago I decided that I did not need the additional workout for my biceps and purchased a Dillon 550 - it cut the handle pulls by a factor of four.

 

[jstaylor62]

"pulled my press handle" isn't a euphemism for something else is it?

 

[adluginb]

I loaded up 1500+ rounds of .223 and 350 rounds of 9mm in the past 3 days. Now I am ready to shoot it all up in the tactical carbine class I am taking this weekend

Since this is still fresh on your mind can you break down the prices of say total cost of:

1.bullets and per single bullet cost
2. Powder and per charge cost
3. Primers and per primer cost

Price of 1 fully loaded 9mm
Price of 1 fully loaded .223

Just to see what reloading saves over buying retail.

Im not consididering what the press and dies cost and assume you where giving all your brass for free.

Thanks

 

[jcbarlow]

Since this is still fresh on your mind can you break down the prices of say total cost of:

1.bullets and per single bullet cost
2. Powder and per charge cost
3. Primers and per primer cost

Price of 1 fully loaded 9mm
Price of 1 fully loaded .223

Just to see what reloading saves over buying retail.

Im not consididering what the press and dies cost and assume you where giving all your brass for free.

Thanks

Absolutely Andy, here you go:
1. Bullets for .223 were $92 + shipping per 1K (Armscor 62gr FMJ) so that works out to be almost right at 10 cents a bullet.
The 9mm were $89 + shipping per 1k (Ranier leadsafe 115gr plated round nose) which works out to be barely under 9 cents per bullet.

2. For the .223 load I used Hogdon BLC-2, 26 grains per round. I paid right at $22 per pound. There are 7000 grains of powder in 1lb so I got approximately 269 charges out of 1lb of powder for the .223 loads, it took me about 6 lbs of powder to load up 1500 rounds of .223. So if I did the math right, which I suck at bad, I think the powder comes out at about 8 cents per charge.
The 9mm powder I used was Power Pistol I paid $20 per pound and used 6.7grains per round so I can get around 1044 charges per pound for 9mm loads.

3. Primers were right around $30 per 1K for both small pistol and small rifle primers. (I got CCI for both of them) So that works out to be like 3 cents per primer.

So I paid right at 20 cents a round for .223 and 13 cents a round for 9mm.

I didn't pay anything for the brass just picked it up myself. Here is a good site that has a cost calculator for reloadinghttp://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

Hope this helps

 

[NikatKimber]

The breakdown (I know you addressed the OP, but as I reload both of those calibers I thought I'd answer).

5.56 - prices calculated using 5k lot.
$370 - Bullets, Wideners Milspec 62gr FMJBT, 5000ct
$300 - Powder, Hodgdon H335, 18.5lbs, using 8lbs Jugs
$155 - Primers, CCI #41 Milspec Small Rifle Primers 5000ct

Total (not including brass) - $825 / 5000rds - $3.30 / 20rd - $0.165 / 1rd

9mm - prices calculated using 1k lot
$75 - Bullets, Remington 124gr JHP 1000ct
$15 - Powder, Alliant Unique 1lb (pretty much any 9mm load I know of will use less than 1lb of powder per thousand rounds)
$29 - Primers, CCI 500 SP primers 1000ct

Total (not including brass) - $119 / 1000rds - $5.95 / 50rd - $0.119 / 1rd

 

[jcbarlow]

The breakdown (I know you addressed the OP, but as I reload both of those calibers I thought I'd answer).

5.56 - prices calculated using 5k lot.
$370 - Bullets, Wideners Milspec 62gr FMJBT, 5000ct
$300 - Powder, Hodgdon H335, 18.5lbs, using 8lbs Jugs
$155 - Primers, CCI #41 Milspec Small Rifle Primers 5000ct

Total (not including brass) - $825 / 5000rds - $3.30 / 20rd - $0.165 / 1rd

9mm - prices calculated using 1k lot
$75 - Bullets, Remington 124gr JHP 1000ct
$15 - Powder, Alliant Unique 1lb (pretty much any 9mm load I know of will use less than 1lb of powder per thousand rounds)
$29 - Primers, CCI 500 SP primers 1000ct

Total (not including brass) - $119 / 1000rds - $5.95 / 50rd - $0.119 / 1rd

Looks like I need to start shopping at wideners instead of midway for reloading supplies.

 

[grwd]

make sure that 223 ammo runs well in your gun.

other than that, enjoy~!

 

[jcbarlow]

make sure that 223 ammo runs well in your gun.

other than that, enjoy~!

Are you talking about the load I listed? I shot about 1200-1300 rounds of it and it ran great. Have you had any issues with it? I am pretty new to reloading rifle rounds, but those seemed to work pretty good.

 

[tyromeo55]

$15 - Powder, Alliant Unique 1lb (pretty much any 9mm load I know of will use less than 1lb of powder per thousand rounds)

Yea, Unique will make a whole heap of 9mm. Id have to look but I think I'm right at or over 4 grains behind a 115 which calculates out to 1750 rounds per pound.

Sure wish benchmark for 223 powder stretched that far

 

[adluginb]

Thanks for cost break downs. I have a new dillon 550b just waiting to be set up!